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Grizzlies were listed as a threatened species in the U.S. in 1975 and as endangered in Washington in 1980. Now, scientists do not have enough evidence to say there is a population at all in the North Cascades ecosystem, which covers about 9,800 square miles in Washington

There have been four confirmed reports of grizzlies there over the past decade.

Now Officials are looking for questions and concerns about proposals to potentially reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem. More than 300 people came to a public meeting in Darrington, one of eight meeting in Washington State last month. After getting feedback from the public and from local leaders, the park service and Fish and Wildlife have decided to extend the time people have to submit comments about the grizzly bear planning efforts.

Newhouse: “There are a lot of issues with that — safety concerns, tourism concerns. If they come in naturally from Canada. There has been some crossover back and forth over time. That seems a more natural progression — I’d be okay with that. That is kind of that taking no action option. But to artificial introduce them — to me — I haven’t heard frankly, from any constituents yet that are clamoring to move forward with this. Like I’ve said before, the people who have to live with the bears should be the people that we listen to; and not someone who is not from the area who may good intentions but unrealistic notions of what the grizzlies would bring to the area. So that has been my goal all a long that the citizens of Okanogan County have the opportunity to express their opinion.”